With the No. 25 Illinois team back in the AP rankings and gearing up to face the formidable No. 8 Alabama in a potentially season-defining matchup, there's an extra cause for celebration. On Tuesday, the program signed four-star guard Brandon Lee, adding another star to the roster.

Brandon Lee: A Basketball Prodigy

Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 180 pounds, Lee hails from Hillside, New Jersey, and is a part of The Patrick School. According to Rivals, he is ranked as the No. 89 recruit in the class of 2025. On the AAU circuit with the New York Rens, he emerged as the third-leading scorer, averaging 23 points per game. During the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in June while playing for Puerto Rico, he led the team in scoring with an impressive 13.3 points per game.His basketball lineage is remarkable. Brandon is the son of Butch Lee, the first Puerto Rican to play in the NBA and the 1978 Naismith Player of the Year. His older brother, Matthew Lee, played at St. Peter's and reached the 2022 Elite Eight with the Peacocks.Illinois coach Brad Underwood had high praise for Brandon. "Brandon is a gifted scorer and an aggressive offensive player who can score at all three levels. He has great physicality, enabling him to score at the rim, get to the foul line, and he is a very capable shooter with range out to the 3-point line. Coming from a basketball family, it's no surprise he is a high IQ player who has been well-coached throughout his career. We're excited to welcome him officially to the Fighting Illini family."Illinois' recruitment strategy with Lee is an investment in the future of the program's backcourt. Lee may have a slight edge over another 2025 guard, Keaton Wagler, who signed with the Illini last week, in terms of physical development. But even in the best case scenario, both players are likely to spend their freshman seasons growing their games and preparing for a chance to earn more playing time in 2026-27.How to Watch: Illinois Basketball vs. Alabama (Game 4)Illinois' Top 5 Non-Con Wins of Brad Underwood Era – With Alabama LoomingIllinois Basketball Signs Four-Star Guard Keaton Wagler